The Ties That Bind

by Ken Walker

Title

The Ties That Bind

Artist

Ken Walker

Medium

Digital Art - Digital Painting

Description

Such wasted years, he thought to himself. Ty’s existence had become nothing more than a dream of what he could have become, like his brother, Hal, holding fast the grandest ship in her Majesty’s navy, nothing moving as long as he held tightly. Yet here Ty was on a lowly frigate, dirty and frayed. No longer useful, just piled up in the corner, time to indulge in boundless “what ifs” as the days slipped away. This was it then. He had resolved himself to meet his end, thrown into the pyre of wishful thinking.

It was especially cold today, and Ty could feel every fiber of his being stiffen as the icy wind blew over him. It was only the sudden hand that reached out to grab him that jostled him to awareness. For all his complaining earlier, the only relief from his prior misery this new environment offered was the longing for his little lonely corner in the ships cabin. This new place was thick white, cold - Hell frozen over. Tossed back and forth, the hands of strangers who once passed by him without not so much as a courteous glance, now clutched onto him, holding tight with such reverence, all focus on him and him alone. Weaving in and around the dark figures of men faded by the harsh blizzard now upon them, Ty held his place. Silence mixed with hope, tainted of fear, the men reached back for Ty. He wondered if all the twist and turns of his existence were for this moment, as the line marched ever forward to what would be salvation. For the marooned crew of the HMS Endurance there was never such ambiguity towards Ty. He had been the lifeline that bound them together that fateful day in 1915, leading them across the barren Elephant Island to safety. Ty was what was needed. And that was purpose enough.

"We all have a purpose in this life, some in the spotlight for the world to see, others in the corner of a frozen wasteland – but all of lasting importance. And though through the veil of woundedness we may not see our benefit, I assure you it is there, if only searched for. This takes patience and perspective. During this Covid pandemic and social unrest, wherever you find yourself taking roots, we need community now more than ever, if at its very basic worth to offer each other a place to belong and be useful. What good is art stuck in a locked vault for no one to enjoy. We need to be out in the open to shine beautiful in whatever creative way we are put together. For some, it’s just to smile, to laugh at this word, others to have broad shoulders for the heartbroken to cry on. Our life, bound together with others around us, is what is meaningful and useful. We, together, are the ties that bind"

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September 12th, 2021

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